About the School of Social Work

Interim Co-Directors

The UA Little Rock School of Social Work’s research and service efforts take place in Arkansas’ metropolitan capital and throughout the state. This allows our students to participate in diverse, hands-on learning and outreach. Courses are taught by dedicated faculty and adjuncts who bring real-world experiences into the classroom.

Degree Programs

Our school offers face-to-face and fully online programs:

Student Support

Faculty advisors assist BSW and MSW students with academic and professional advising. Our students engage in internships throughout Arkansas. Qualified and highly-skilled field supervisors support, mentor, and assure each student thrives through high-impact learning opportunities.

Our graduates consistently have a high pass rate for the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) national license for the Licensed Social Worker (LSW),  Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW), and Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW). Additionally, both the BSW and MSW programs are fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).

We work closely with MidSouth, the community service unit of the School of Social Work, and the largest grant-producing center at UA Little Rock.

School of Social Work Curriculums

The curriculums for our BSW and MSW programs center on the nine core competencies our accrediting body, the CSWE, requires for each program. Our faculty takes careful attention to assure the necessary knowledge, values, and skills are incorporated into each course to cover these competencies.

Our MSW program offers two forms of specialized practice:

  • the Advanced Direct Practice track equips students to work effectively with individuals, families and groups
  • the Community & Organizational Impact track ensures that students are prepared to be forward-thinking changemakers, advocates, and community builders

School Mission

The mission of the UA Little Rock School of Social Work is to prepare ethical graduates who accept and appreciate diversity, who empower people and communities to meet the challenges of poverty and social and economic injustice, and who serve oppressed and vulnerable populations at the local, state, national, and international levels.

BSW Mission Statement

We are committed to the values of diversity, human rights, and social justice. With this value base, we educate our students in the knowledge, values, and skills necessary for generalist practice within our diverse population and prepare students for graduate and life-long learning. (Revised April 2010)

MSW Mission Statement

The mission of the graduate program of the School of Social Work, building on a strong generalist foundation, is to prepare graduates for leadership roles in clinical practice and in management and community practice within the social welfare system in Arkansas. Our commitment is to discover and disseminate knowledge, embrace diversity, to serve our communities and organizations, and to eliminate the barriers that oppressed and vulnerable people face.

Gerontology Mission Statement

The mission of the program of the School of Social Work in Gerontology is to equip students with the knowledge, values and skills required to work with the burgeoning population of older adults in the 21st Century. The Gerontology Certificate provides participants with the knowledge and appreciation of psychological, sociological and biological changes throughout the life course, as well as the values of inclusiveness and diversity that will be increasingly needed for our society to successfully navigate through the upcoming challenges and opportunities of an aging society. In addition, we educate our students to both lead and respond to policies and services.